Bottom line: The photo subject is real, but the widely circulated file is an AI-enhanced edit. The original New York Post image (Aug. 6, 2026) — credited to Andrew Thomas — shows raindrops and reflections on the car window; the version shared on X on Aug. 8, 2026 removed those elements. Hive Moderation flagged the post (68.2%), suggesting likely AI modification.
Fact Check: AI-Enhanced Photo Shows Christine Grady Making Obscene Gesture — Original Photo Altered
Lead Stories says: AI Touch-Up
Is the widely circulated image that appears to show Christine Grady, Dr. Anthony Fauci's wife, giving an obscene hand gesture real? Short answer: the people and scene are real, but the widely shared file is an AI-enhanced edit of an original news photo.
Image source: post by @ericmmatheny on X.
What We Found
Original source: A photograph published by the New York Post on Aug. 6, 2026, credited to Andrew Thomas — Consolidated News Photos for the NY Post, shows the same people and moment but includes raindrops and window reflections on the vehicle.
Image source: Andrew Thomas - Consolidated News Photos for NY Post.
Edited version: An AI-enhanced image that removes raindrops and window reflections was posted on X by the account @ericmmatheny on Aug. 8, 2026 with the caption:
"Ugly disgusting human beings."
Image source: Hive Moderation.
How the Image Was Altered
The circulated file appears to be a cleaned-up version of the original news photograph. The primary edits remove water droplets and reflections on the car window, producing a clearer, more direct view of the hand gesture. Those visual changes are consistent with AI-based image editing or retouching rather than a simple crop or exposure adjustment.
Image source: Andrew Thomas - Consolidated News Photos for NY Post and apost by @ericmmatheny on X.
Detection And Verification
An automated check using the Hive Moderation AI-Generated Content Detection tool returned an aggregated score of 68.2% for the @ericmmatheny post — a level the tool treats as indicating the image is likely AI-generated or AI-modified. We compared the New York Post frame and the circulated version side-by-side and confirmed the same subjects and composition, with the edited file lacking the window artifacts visible in the original.
What This Means
The photograph depicts Christine Grady making an obscene gesture in the scene captured by the original news photo, but the commonly shared image has been digitally altered to remove contextual details (raindrops and reflections). That makes the edited file an AI-enhanced modification of an authentic news image rather than an untouched press photograph.
Tips For Spotting Similar Edits
- Look For Missing Reflections Or Environmental Artifacts — Their sudden absence can indicate editing.
- Check Original Publisher Credits And Dates — Compare the file to the photo run by established outlets.
- Use AI-Detection Tools As A Guide — Scores are indicative, not definitive; pair them with visual checks.
Conclusion
The scene shown — Christine Grady appearing to flip off a photographer while driving in Washington, D.C. — matches the original New York Post photograph, but the widely shared image is an AI-enhanced edit that removes window raindrops and reflections. The edited image was posted on X by @ericmmatheny on Aug. 8, 2026, after the original appeared in the New York Post on Aug. 6, 2026.
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